Recruit more youth from border areas in army: Punjab CM

Recalling the “great service” rendered to the country by the residents of the border areas in the state, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday urged the Centre to launch a special recruitment drive to enable the youth of these areas to join the army and para-military forces.

Badal, accompanied by state revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia, said the youth of the region was blessed with an indomitable spirit of courage and self-sacrifice. Hence, efforts must be made to channelise it.(HT Photo)

As the border residents continue to leave for safer places, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal said evacuation orders would remain in force till the state government gets instructions from the Centre.

Talking to the media on the sidelines of his visit to the border areas of Amritsar district on Sunday, the CM recalled service rendered by Punjab border residents to the country. He also urged the Centre to start a special recruitment drive for enabling the youth of border areas to join the army and paramilitary forces.

Accompanied by revenue, information and public relations minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Badal said Punjab youths have indomitable spirit of courage and self-sacrifice, so efforts should be made to channelise this energy for the country.

He said the brave patriots of the border region had always fought against odds to safeguard the unity and integrity of the country, adding that it was high time that the country recognises their contribution.

The CM said the Punjab government would also approach the Union defence ministry for widening bridges on drains in the border region.

To a query, Badal said villages within a 10km of the Indo-Pak border were evacuated following an advisory by the Union government to prevent any loss of life.

He said the state government had made elaborate arrangements at relief camps for those who had to be moved there from their villages.